Camera carrying case



Dec. 26, 1950 Filed June 7, 1950 E. H. NELSON CAMERA CARRYING CASE 's Sheets-Sheet 1 Dec. 26, 1950 E. H. NE'LSON- 2,535,152

CAMERA CARRYING CASE Filed. June 7, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 4% 5 ll\ 5 I 1/ 4 mmnwm 9 m 272 01167215? 11/345012 26, 1950 E. H. NELSON 2,535,152

CAMERA CARRYING CASE Filed June 7, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet I5 all? YHVEHZ Ur fwd Zak [i Ns l/fi'ora Patented Dec. 26, 1 950 UNITED 1 I emu oannrmc ma Erdick H. Nelson,v Walworth, assignor to Furnel, Incorporate, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application June 7, 1950-, Serial No. 166,692

v Thisinvention relates generally to a carrying case fora camera and more specifically to an improved carrying case which may be integrated in hmassembly with a camera, the case including covers pivotally hingedto a base and movable,

from a camera enclosing positionto ,a retracted position wherein all portions of the camera are freely accessible and where the covers are in back-to-back: relationship and form a handle by which the camera may be supported.

According to the general features of the present invention, a base member is provided havinga fastener constructed to be received by the tripod connector fitting of a camera, the base member having spaced apart end portions which flank a portion of the sides of the camera. The end members have apertured boss portions which receive hinge pins pivotally mounting a par of opposed cover portions which together with the base member completely cheese the camera when swung upwardly into mating relationship with one another. 4

In order to afford complete accessibility to all parts of the camera, the. cover pbrtions may be separated and pivotally moved to a second position where' they lie in back-to-back relationship in general depending position relative to the camera. In this position, thev covers form a handle by which the camera maybesupported during the operation thereof.

To enhance the utility of the carrying case structure herein provided, a tripod adapter-may be employed which may be interposed between the base member and a tripod so that the covers,

in being pivotally moved downwardly, will engagingly abut the side walls of the tripod adapter and will be supported in a generally horizontal plane to function as a support surface for extra filters, lenses and other photographic paraphernalia used as camera accessories. v

The principles of thepresent invention may be embodied in a carrying case for still cameras as well as for moving picture cameras. According to one preferred embodiment herein shown and described. the opposed cover portions forming the support handle may be locked in enclosure forming position by means of a latch structure taking the form of a hinged lens closure as will be explained in greater detail hereinafter.

One of the advantageous features of the present invention is the provision of a strap support operatively connected to the pivotally hinged cover members, whereby support of the case from the strap will tend'to pivot the covers aboutthe base member into enclosure forming relationship with the camera. v v

It is an object of the present invention, therefore, to provide a carrying case, which includes closure members movable between a first position wherein a camera. may be completely encased '11 Claims. (01. s5-'-so) and a second position where the closure members form a handle for the camera.

, Another obiect of the present invention is to J provide a, carrying case having closure members movable-from a first position wherein the camera is completely encased to a second position where.- in support shelves are provided upon which camera accessories may be carried.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a camera case having pivotally hinged closure members operatively connected to a strap support whereby support of the case from the strap willpivot the covers into enclosure forming relationship with the camera.

Yet another obiect of; the present invention is to provide a camera case which may be readily and economically manufactured from a comparatively rigid material such as molded plastic or the like and having a particularly'pleasing configuration.

Many other features, advantages and additional objects of the present'invention will become manifest to'those versed inthe art upon making reference to the detailed description which follows and the accompanying sheets of drawi'ngsin which several preferred embodiments of structures incorporating the principles of my invention are shown.

On the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a camera case ,{according to the present invention;

Figure 2 Ba cross-sectional view of thecamera case shown in Fi ure l, the components of thecarrying'case being positioned in enclosure ;i 'orming relationshi relative to a camera which .is shown partly in phantom;

v I Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view with the com-- -ponents of the carrying case positioned to afford complete access to the camera and with thecover members of the case positioned in back-to-back relationship to form a handle by which a camera maybe su ported: I p

, Figure 4 is an exp oded elevational view of the case shownin Figure l;

Figure 5 is an exploded fragmentary elevational viewshowing additional details of construction of the case components;

I Figure 6 is an elevational view of a tripod adapter provided in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 7 is a partial elevational view showing the camera case of the present invention equipped with the tripod adantershown in Figure 5 and mount d on a camera tripod;

- Figured is a partial cross-sectional view showing additional details of structure as the elementsshown in Figure 7:

Figure 9 is a plan elevational view of an alternative embodiment-ofmy invention showing a camera case for a still camera;

Figure 10 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line X+-X.of Figural); and v Figure 11" is a frofntelevational view of the camera case shown in Figures 9 and 10.

As shown on the drawings:

The camera case of the present invention'is indicated generally by the reference'numeral- I and includes a base member I] and apairpf closure members I2 and I3 which are of -.complev mentary similar construction, the closure members being sometimes referred to herein as a first cover member I2 and a second cover member I3.

The base member II includes a body portion, I4 having upstandingend portions I6 spaced apart from one another to receive a camera indi- 'cated generally by the reference character C therebetween, the details of construction of which not being necessary to the understanding of the principles of this invention.

The end members I6 are each provided with a downwardly extending boss portion I! along the four lower corner edges of the base member II, all of the boss portions II being apertured as at tional construction and carried in the body portion Id of the base member II.

The cover I2 is a generally dish shaped element having a flanged edge portion 22 and including "recessed edge portions as at 23 providing an inter- "fitting assembly with a flanged edge IBa defined by each of the end members I6. A hinge portion '24 suitabl apertured as at 25 is situated at the lowermost portion of the cover I2 and may be inserted between one pair of the opposed boss portions H of the base member after which "the hinge pin I9 may be inserted through the apertures I8 formed in the boss portions I1 and "through the aperture 25 formed in the hinge portion 24, thereb hingedly mounting the cover I2 to the base member I I for pivotal movement rela- "tive thereto.

The cover member I3 is a generally dished shaped member having recessed edge portions as at 26 which together with the flanged portion '22 of the cover I2 and the flanged portion Ilid of the end member I6 of the base member II form an interfitting assembly. The cover I3 is also provided with a hinge portion 21 apertured as at 28 and insertable between the other spaced apart fbosses I'I for hinging action on a hinge pin I9 inserted through the aperture I8 and the aperture ZBQthereby' permitting the cover I3 to be pivotally mounted to the basemember II. Y 'Bothof the covers I2 and I3 are provided with a substantially medially located boss" 12d and 1311 which substantially encircles the"'camera case In, the bosses I2a and I311 lying in substantial registry with one another and forming a cohtinuous' raised portion on the outer surface of the" covers I2 and I3. The bosses I 2'a and I311 are grooved as at 29 (Figure 1) alon'g'the' side wall portions of the covers I2 and I 3"to'rec'e'ive the ends of a strap support indicated'by' the reference numeral 30.

The strap support member 30 may be operatively connected to each of the covers I2 and I3 Fin any suitable manner, the present embodiment showing a pluralit of rivets 3| passed through the "strap support member 30 and received" in flrm' assembly with respective covers" I2 and" I3."

The abutting portions ofthez-bosses Ilaand 4 Ila are modified to receive a latching structure indicated. ene a mhariere ice hum 32 :to hold the covers I2 1: and;v I3 inffirin assembly 'with one another when theyare moved into a first position corresponding to an enclosure forming relationship wherein the covers I2 and I3 together with the base member I I completely .encasethe camera C with which the case III is integrated. Finger operable means 33 are provided on the latch member situated on the cover I3 to release the latch 32 when separation or the covers I2 and I3 is necessary or desirable. Asis shown in Figure 3 the covers I2 and I3 are pivotally movable to, a second position wherein the covers lie in generally dependent pOSition relative to the camera C' 'and in back-to-back relationship with respect to one another. In this position, the-covers are completel clear "of the camera C thereby affording full accessibility 'to all portions of the camera. In additidd'th'e coversform 'a handle by means of which the camera C ma beisu'pported during the operation thereof. f L A One feature residing in the structural arrangernent of the present invention is the fact that supportof the case I0 from the strap'support 30 will tendto pivot the covers I2 and I3 about the hinge pin I9 carried in the lower portion of "the base member I Iinto enclosure forming relagubnsm relative to the cameraC. The'covers I2 "and I3 actually operate as lever arms between the outermost points of support with respect to the strap support and the pivot'poi'nt defined by the hinge pin I9.

"Thus, if the structure of 'the'j pr'es'ent invention is supported about theneck of the operator by means of the strap support 30 and the covers I2 and I3 are pivoted into'a-handle fo'ririi'ng' position during operation of the camera C. the operator need only lower the entire structure whereupon support of the case III from the strap upport 30 will tend to move the covers "12 and I3 into'en'closure'forming relationship. y

Atten'tlOn is iIiVited-to thefact that an'or the components of the camera" case thus" far j de- "scr'ibed are preferably made of a fairly rigid material such as a molded plasticr" y the pro'vrsion' of such material; particularly striking color characteristics may be obtained" and the physical properties of the 'material pro mote the at ftain'ability of particularly pleasing contour lines which enhance the overall esthetic appearance of the case I0 and promote the efficient development of the"me'chanical functions contemplated according to this invention. In Figures: 6',"7 "and 8 the use ofthecase III -"witli' a tripod adapter "ind'j ated generallyby the frefe'rence numeral'ali' isfshjown. -f

The tripod adapter '36 preferably comprises a block of -'iri'olded. plastic 'material "similar to' "that employed'in the camera case "I0, the adapter 35 being of generally rectangular configuration and the same width as the "base member II." The upper longitudinal edge' portions arerecessed as at 31' to receive"thebbs's portions I'I' and the "hinge portions 24 and 21 of the base member II and the covers I2 and "I 3 respectively. The adapter 36 is provided with a suitably shaped aperture "to receive a' conventional fastener 38 which may be threaded into the fastener 2| of the base member II, thereby integrating the adapter 36' with the" camera *case" I I). "Ihe'side walls of "the adapter 36 are provided with a plurality of spaced 'bosses 39' which'operl'ate' as stop members engagingly abut ai'piir asserts tion. ofixthe: bosses. Ma; and [3-0: formed: onv the surface: or? the. covers. [2: andv [3: respectively; Thusthecovers. I12 and. [.3 will; be retained in a substantially: horizontal-1y disposed position.

The; fastener 3'8 of. the tripod adapter- 35. or course,; threadedlyreceives. the stud 48. of, any conventional tripodwindicatea' generally by the, reference: numeral 41.. It. will be; readily appreciated bythose: versed in. the art that. thehorizontally extending; positiomof the covers.- I.-2: and i3: is; particularly. desirable when the: camera. CZ-is, carried on the tripod 4t since; the covers: 12 and I3. form, shelves; upon which, various filters, lenses, flash: bulbs, and other photographic; paraphernalia commonly employed as camera accessories may be placed during: various. phases of. camera. operation. moreoven; despite, the added utility of, the covers 12- and 13 through their shelf forming, capacity, the camera. 6. is. completely cleared by both of the; covers [2'v and. I13 thereby affording. iullaccessibility to all portions; thereof., I

In: Figures g9, l0. and- 11, the principles; of the present invention areshown in their applicationto'. a; camera case indicated generally by the ref-- erence numeral ID for a still camera, for example, a. conventional. 35- mm. camera of the. type adapted to; take. snapshots,

The: camera; case. l-ll includes a base! member M!- and. a. first cover member l2 and a second: cover member I233.

The: base member H has; spaced; boss portions, M" which reoeivethc hinged portions 24' and" 2? of covers I2" and I 3" therebetween-, the boss portions- H and the: hinged portions 2.4- and 2-?" being apertured to receive a. hinge. pin- 19' so. that. the-covers t2" and l3! may be moved from a firstposition, wherein a camera C is completel-y: encased (Figures; 91 and 10% to a second: position wherein the covers: 12' and l-13" are in generally dependent, relationship: relativeto the; cameraC. and form a handle by means; of. which thacamera-C. may be: supported (phantom. outline shown in Figure 11') The covers, t2! and; I3. may be: latched. in err.

closure. f orm-in-g relationship by means of a latch-,- ing arrangement which; in this particular em bodiment, takes theform of. a. lens cover 42 hav a. hinge; portion 43. received between a, pairof. spaced bosses 44 formed on the base. member It, the hinge portion 43: and: the bosses 44 being; apertured to receive a hinge pin 46, whereby the lensdoor rz maybe-swung clear of the lens provid d on the camera 0 or may be pivotally moved into locking relationship. with thelcovers l2 and r33. A finger operable button-41 cooperable. with a spring clip 48 fastened to the. lens door 42 is provided to assist in retaining the covers [2' and 13' in assembled relationship.

The. covers 12' and I3 maybe further provided; with, boss portions l2a and |3a.', the boss; pora tions beinggrooved to receive a strap support. 30 Qperatively connected to the covers l2 and; I3 in a. manner-"similar to that previously described.

Although I have resorted to:- detail in the; de-

scription of the. various. structural, embodiments of my invention, it should be understood that I wish. to embody within the scope of this patent all such modifications as reasonably and properly come within the scope of my contribution to the art.

I claim as my invention:

1. A carrying case for a camera comprising a base member having fastening means connectable with said camera, closure members hinged to said base tor pivotal movement; between a first position. wherein said closure. members are posi;- tioned uprightly' on said basemember and" to gether with said basemember form a camera enclosure and a second position wherein said closure members; generally depend from. said-base member and together withhone another" form a handle with which to support: a. cameraconnected to said base member, latchingmeans toilock said closure members in said firstposition, said latch-. i-ng means including a lens; enclosing doorpivotally mounted on said; base member to swingthroughv a plane generally. normal to the plane of movement: of said closure members from. a first position wherein said door cooperates with said closure membersv to latch same in closed po.--. sition and av second. position wherein said door is swung clearof the camera.

2; A carrying case as defined in claim I and strap means, the ends of-said strap means be-- m g-respectively connected to: each of said closuremembers, whereby said closure members together with said base member and said strap means form a closed loop. 3'. A carrying case as defined in claim 2 wherelnsaid base member is arranged to project into said closed loop, whereby-- support of said carrying case from said strap means withsaid camera positioned uprightly on said base member will pivot said closure members into said first position.

4. A carrying case for a portable hand manipulated-camera comprising a base-member having fastening means to removably receivesaid camera. in assembly with said base member; a first rigid cover and a second rigid cover, each of said covers having a hinged connection to said base member in spaced apart relationship to one another and being pivotally movable relative tothe base member, each of said covers also including marginal flange portions arranged to abuttingly engage one another when said covers are pivotally moved to a first upright position on said base member, said coversv together with said base member when in said first upright position com-- pletely encasing the camera assembled on said base member, said covers beingpivotally movable to a second position in generally dependent relationship to said base member and in generally back-to-back abutment with each other, said covers together with one anotherforming a unitar-y handle grip arranged to support the camera assembled on'said base member, the adjacent marginal flange portions of said covers being adapted to be embraceably grasped bythe hands of the camera manipulator;

' 5 A carrying case for a portable hand manipulated camera comprising a base member having fastening mean-s to removably receive said camera inassem-blywith said base member, a first rigid cover and a second rigid cover, each of said covers having a hinged connection to said; base member in spaced apart relationship to one another and being pivotally movable relative to the base member, each: of said covers also including marginal flangeportionsarranged to abuttinglyengage one another when said covers are pivotally moved to a firstupr-ight position on said base member, said covers together with said basemember when in said first upright position completely encasing the camera assembled on said base member, said covers being pivotally movable to a second position in generally dependent relationship to said base member and in generally back-to-back abutment with each other, said covers together with one another forming a unitary handle grip arranged to support the camera assembled on said base member, the adjacent marginal flange portions of said covers being adapted to be embraceably grasped by the hands of the camera manipulator, and mating latching means carried by each of said covers to lock same in said first upright position.

6. A camera case made of a substantially rigid molded plastic material and comprising a base member having a connection member to be attached to a camera, a pair of generally dished covers pivotally hinged to said base member and together therewith forming a casing to enclose a camera attached to said connection member, said covers being pivotally displaceable into generally dependent relationship to said base member to afford full-access to the camera and generally' abutting one another thereby to form a rigid handle with which to support the camera connected to the base member, said covers constructed to have substantial portion thereof embraceably grasped by the hands of a camera operator.

7. A carrying case for a camera comprising a base having a body portion with fastening means, a camera connected to the base by said fastening means, apertured boss means on the lowermost portions of the base, a first cover and a second cover each having an apertured flange means at one end thereof cooperable with said boss means, a hinge pin extending through each of said boss means and through each of said flanges, said first and second covers being pivotally movable from a first position wherein said covers are positioned uprightly on said base and together with said base form a casing for said camera to a second position wherein said covers lie in generally depending relationship to said base and abut one another to form a handle for support of said camera, said handle being substantially embraceable by the hands of a camera operator. 8. A carrying case for a camera comprising a camera supporting base portion; a first cover and a second'cover each having a hinged connection to said base portion and being pivotally movable relative thereto to abuttingly underlie said base portion, thereby to form a unitary handle grip for use in operating the camera, said covers together with one another and with said base portion forming a camera enclosure, and a strap means, each of said covers having an end of said strap means firmly connected thereto, said strap means in combination with said first and second covers and together with said base portion forming a closed loop, said base portion extending into the closure of said loop, whereby support of said case from said strap means with the base portion positioned uprightly will pivot said covers about said base portion into enclosure forming relationship with a camera supported on said base portion.

9. A carrying case for a camera comprising a camera supporting base portion, a first cover and a second cover each having a hinged connection to said base portion and pivotally movable relative thereto, said covers together with one another and with said base portion forming a camera enclosure, and a strap means, each of said covers having a strap-receiving portion arranged to receive one end of said strap means, the ends of said strap means being firmly connected to each of said covers to form a closed loop together with said base portion and said first and second covers, said base portion arranged to project into said closed loop, whereby support of said case from said strap means with the base portion positioned uprightly will pivot said covers about said base into enclosure forming relationship, said first and second covers adapted to be pivotally moved into a dependent relationship with said base portion and with said strap-receiving portions in abutment, thereby to form a unitary handle grip for use as a support in operating the camera.

10. A carrying case for a camera comprising a base portion, a first cover and a second cover, said covers each comprising a generally cup shaped receptacle-like element, each of said covers including a hinge portion pivotally connected to said base portion, the covers being pivotally movable and abutting one another when positioned uprightly on said base portion as well as when depending from said base portion, thereby forming together with the base portion a camera enclosure when in upright position and a unitary handle grip when in dependent position, the covers having a boss substantially encircling a portion of said case along opposed side wall faces of said covers, said boss constituting a strap receiving means, a carrying strap having portions thereof received by said boss and being firmly connected to said cover, and latch means carried by said covers to lock said covers in enclosure forming relationship.

11. A carrying case for a portable camera comprising a base member having fastening means oonnectable with said camera, closure members hinged to said base for pivotal movement between a first position wherein said closure members are positioned uprightly with respect to said base member and together with said base member form a camera enclosure'and a second position wherein said closure members generally depend from said base member and abut one another to form a unitary handle, the closure members when in dependent position adapted to be hand gripped and arranged to be embraceably grasped to support the camera, and latching means to lock said closure members in said first position.

ERDICK I-I. NELSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Num er Name Date D. 160,819 Lustig Sept. 19, 1950 2,172,348 Githens Sept. 12, 1939 2,249,116 Corless July 15, 1941 2,290,307 Wicker July 21, 1942 2,481,106 Gold 1 Sept. 6, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 600,954 Great Britain Apr; 25, 1948 

